Virginia

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

New York-JFK - Washington DC

MSN:

1858

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

JTC106

Location:

Washington-National

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10272

Captain / Total hours on type:

108.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

860

Copilot / Total hours on type:

Aircraft flight hours:

701

Circumstances:

At approximately 10:48 a.m. eastern daylight time on July 2, 1970, Short Brothers & Harland, Ltd., Skyvan Series 3, N21CK, operated by Jetco Aviation, Inc., Washington, D. C., as air taxi cargo flight, Flight 106, crashed during an approach to Washington National Airport. The aircraft was demolished but did not burn. Both cremnembers received fatal injuries. There were no passengers. According to witnesses, the aircraft was first visible to them, through fog and haze, when it was 700 to 800 feet above and about one-half mile out from the threshold of Runway 15. Shortly after the aircraft came into view of the witnesses, it nosed down and rolled left until the wings were nearly vertical. The nose-down angle steepened progressively until it reached 45° or more. The aircraft struck the water of Roaches Run in this attitude, cartwheeled onto the right wingtip and sank in water 12 to 15 feet deep about 1,800 feet north of the threshold of Runway 15. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the loss of effective elevator control due to the forward shift of improperly secured cargo when the aircraft was placed in a steep nose-down attitude during a landing approach in reduced visibility conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Dublin

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1970 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 65 Queen Air

Operator:

Registration:

N447S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dublin – Winston-Salem

MSN:

LC-8

YOM:

1960

Location:

Dublin-New River Valley

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10598

Captain / Total hours on type:

130.00

Circumstances:

When the pilot proceeded to the engine start-up at Dublin-New River Valley Airport, the left engine could not start for unknown reason. The pilot decided to takeoff with the right engine only. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, struck power cables and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot exercised poor judgement,
- The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- The pilot failed to obtain flying speed,
- The pilot failed to maintain directional control,
- Un start left engine on ground,
- Takeoff with right engine only.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 at Langley AFB

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1970 at 1244 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

Jet International

Registration:

N741J

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Richmond - Linden

MSN:

146

YOM:

1949

Location:

Langley AFB (Hampton)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Circumstances:

En route from Richmond to Linden, NJ, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and that he was unable to lower the landing gear. ATC cleared the crew to divert to Langley AFB for an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed on a foamed runway and came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wheels-up landing caused by the malfunction of the landing gear mechanism. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper maintenance on part of the maintenant personnel,
- Failure of the landing gear mechanism,
- Material failure, corrosion,
- Suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Numerous aircraft maintenance discrepancies,
- Uplock cable broken,
- Emergency system pressure too low.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Weyers Cave: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1970 at 1455 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Shenandoah Air

Registration:

N403FW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Weyers Cave-Shenandoah Valley

Schedule:

Washington DC - Weyers Cave

MSN:

BA-37

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6394

Captain / Total hours on type:

191.00

Circumstances:

On approach to Weyers Cave-Shenandoah Valley Airport, the crew informed ATC that both engines failed and that he was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude. Shortly later, the aircraft struck a hill located few miles from the airfield, probably as the crew was trying to make an emergency landing. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure on final approach due to icing conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper operation of powerplant on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Improper operation or failed to use the anti-icing/deicing equipment,
- Ice-carburetor,
- Conditions conducive to carburetor/induction system icing,
- Complete failure of both engines,
- Icing conditions,
- Both propellers found in feathered position after impact.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell 1121 Jet Commander in Rural Retreat: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1969 at 2210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N236JP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

New York-LaGuardia – Johnson City

MSN:

1121-116

YOM:

1967

Location:

Rural Retreat

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7255

Captain / Total hours on type:

732.00

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude by night over Virginia, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion in a field. The wreckage was found a day later and all three occupants were killed. The airplane was totally destroyed upon impact as it struck the ground in a 60° nose-down attitude at high speed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight and uncontrolled descent due to several errors on part of the flying crew. The following findings were reported:
- The pilot-in-command failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- The crew suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Failure of the electrical system: generators/alternators,
- Electrical failure,
- Failure of the flight and navigation instruments,
- IFR alternator failed in flight,
- Loss of pilots flight instruments due to improper crew action in flight.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell CT-39A-1-NO Sabreliner at Langley AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1968

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell T-39 Sabreliner

Operator:

Registration:

62-4502

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

276-55

YOM:

1962

Location:

Langley AFB (Hampton)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Langley AFB, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in flames one mile short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Cessna 401 in Hopewell

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1968 at 0850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 401

Operator:

Registration:

N348E

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Hopewell

Country:

Region:

De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6976

Captain / Total hours on type:

169.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Hopewell Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility and was unable to locate the runway lights. He failed to execute a missed approach and continued to descend until the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All five occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were considered as contributing:
- Low ceiling,
- Obstruction to vision,
- The pilot did not execute a missed approach when runway was not in sight,
- The visibility was reduced due to smoke from a local factory and fog.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland U-6A Beaver off Coles Point: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Fort Eustis – Harrisburg

Location:

Coles Point

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane deparated Fort Eustis-Felker AAF on a liaison flight to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Potomac River off Coles Point, Virginia. The aircraft sank and all five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James P. Perry, pilot.
Cpt Dennis A. Wrobleski, copilot.
Passengers:
CW2 Marvin L. Johnson,
CW3 William J. Francis,
SP6 Roger C. Fultz.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of a bent stop on the propeller governor which caused the engine to fail in flight due to overspeed.

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Norfolk

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1967 at 1359 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

N7431

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

129

YOM:

1956

Location:

Norfolk

Country:

Region: